Daniel Ndima
Daniel Ndima grew up in South Africa and became passionate about science at a young age. After matriculating, he obtained a Bachelor’s and Honours degree in Biotechnology from the University of the Western Cape. He went on to graduate with a Masters degree in Biochemistry from the University of Pretoria. His academic pursuits allowed him to become specialized in the structural biology of infectious diseases. He has extensive knowledge of protein engineering and crystallography, bioprocess engineering and biomanufacturing. Currently, Mr. Ndima is working on a thesis highlighting the complexities of genome editing tools (CRISPR) for industrial opportunities for his Doctoral studies. Throughout his post-graduate journey, he obtained multiple awards and scholarships recognizing his excellence in academics, social responsibility, student leadership, and entrepreneural initiatives. In addition, he initiated three start-up companies as an undergraduate student and was subsequently awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award at the University of the Western Cape.
Mr. Ndima is an Allan Gray Fellow, a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, a Brightest Young Minds alumnus, one of the African Influencers for Change as listed by UDNP Africa, a careers 1825 role model and he was featured in Africa Innovates Magazine as a top innovator. He played a vital role as a front runner in South Africa’s national response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was amongst the speakers, together with the World Health Organization, at the National Coronavirus Pandemic Conference hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Astonishingly, he also participated in United Nations’ dialogue on Africa’s preparedness to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, Daniel is a Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South African (2021) under the Science and Technology category and was a three times finalist at the 2022 Black Industrialists Conference for the Black Industrialist Excellence Awards under the categories: (1) Young Industrialist, (2) Industrialist and (3) Innovation and Technology. He successfully obtained the Black Industrialist Excellence Award in the category Innovation and Technology and was awarded by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Moreover, he won the Top African Biotechnology Entrepreneur Award at the BIO Africa Convention 2022. Oxford Africa Initiative Director and Emory University (USA) Leadership were among the other winners for their role in African healthcare initiatives.
Daniel’s successful efforts not only advances the scientific community but creates a platform for science that creates jobs, improves the quality of ordinary lives, and contributes to national development and the economy. He is the founder CEO of Capebio Technologies (Pty) Ltd, which is a proudly South African biotechnology firm that develops and manufactures reagents for molecular research and diagnostics, diagnostic testing kits, forensic DNA analysis kits and other life science research and diagnostics tools. CapeBio™ is internationally applauded for its innovative novel Bio-Discovery Platform which converges bioinformatics tools and machine learning. This platform enabled the development of a SAHPRA-approved COVID-19 PCR test kit (the first one developed in Africa) and is currently being exploited to expand the diagnostics portfolio to target other infectious diseases and cancer. The second iteration is being explored for the discovery of novel therapeutic biomolecules
